Good and bad news for Human Genome Sciences, as it files Benlysta BLA but mapatumumab disappoints in Ph II

11 June 2010

There was mixed news for Maryland-USA-based Human Genome Sciences this week, with the fling ahead of expectations of a Biologics License Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for approval to market Benlysta (belimumab) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but also negative results from a mid-stage study of its advanced multiple myeloma drug candidate mapatumumab.

HGS announced the results of its randomized Phase II trial of mapatumumab (HGS-ETR1) in combination with bortezomib (Velcade) in patients with advanced multiple myeloma.

The results demonstrated no difference in disease response or progression-free survival for the combination that included mapatumumab versus the control group receiving bortezomib alone, but showed that mapatumumab was well tolerated in this study. HGS said it expects to report full results from the trial at a scientific meeting later in 2010.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK